Geochemical Evaluation of Eagle Ford Group Source Rocks and Oils from the First Shot Field, Texas

Who Should Attend

This e-symposium is ideal for geologists, geophysicists, engineers and other geoscientists who are involved in gas shale exploration and production.

Objectives

Participants in this e-symposium will learn:

How to use various types of geochemical data including total organic carbon (TOC), pyrolysis, gas chromatography, and biomarkers to help evaluate and appraise Eagle Ford resource plays;

To determine the relative influence of the original composition of the source rock organic matter versus the thermal maturity influence on the various present-day Eagle Ford geochemical parameters and oil quality;

What types of information are provided for Eagle Ford resource plays by the various geochemical analyses and how to approach and resolve apparent differences and discrepancies in the geochemical data;

How to compare, contrast, and integrate geochemical data on rock samples and geochemical data on oil samples for Eagle Ford resource plays;

What geochemical data can tell you about hydrocarbon generation and migration in Eagle Ford resource plays;

How geochemical data can be used to help develop and constrain hydrocarbon generation models for Eagle Ford resource plays;

How hydrocarbon generation modeling can be used to obtain information regarding: a) the burial and thermal history of the Eagle Ford, b) the timing of Eagle Ford hydrocarbon generation, and c) the anticipated Eagle Ford hydrocarbon products (oil versus wet gas and condensate, for example).

Course Content

These objectives will be achieved by going step by step through the evaluation, interpretation, and integration of Eagle Ford source rock and oil geochemical data as well as the hydrocarbon generation modeling for an Eagle Ford case history from the First Shot field, Texas. The content of this case history is summarized below:

Total organic carbon, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and vitrinite reflectance analyses performed on Eagle Ford Group core and cuttings samples from the First Shot field area, Texas demonstrate these samples have sufficient quantity, quality, and maturity of organic matter to have generated oil. Furthermore, gas chromatography and biomarker analyses performed on Eagle Ford Group oils and source rock extracts as well as weight percent sulfur analyses on the oils indicate the source rock facies for most of the oils are fairly similar. Specifically, these Eagle Ford source rock facies vary in lithology from shales to marls, contain elevated levels of sulfur at lower thermal maturities, and were deposited in a marine environment under anoxic conditions. It is these First Shot Eagle Ford source facies that have generated the oils in the First Shot field. That is, most of the First Shot oils appear to have been generated locally and have not migrated into the area from long distances. However, in contrast to the generally similar source rock facies and organic matter, Eagle Ford thermal maturity varies from the early oil window to the late oil window in the study area, and these maturity variations have had a pronounced effect on both the source rock and oil characteristics. Overall, this study suggests there may be more local variations in Eagle Ford thermal maturity than have previously been recognized. Such local variations can impact Eagle Ford economics and whether the Eagle Ford will produce mostly oil or condensate and wet gas.

Each e-symposium consists of one-hour live e-symposium, along with material for one full day of independent study. The live portion will be followed by a full day of independent study (not a live event). The one-hour live e-symposium can be accessed from any computer anywhere in the world using a high-speed internet connection. After the event is over, you will receive via email information about accessing the asynchronous segment (not live) which consists of your independent study materials, to be accessed and studied at any time. You will be able to email responses to the readings, along with your study question answers for CEU credit (if you sign up for the extended package).

Recording of original webinar, packet of independent study reading materials, PDF of original PowerPoint presentation by FTP download. (Original presentation date: November 11, 2010.) Some materials will also sent by e-mail.

$75

$75

Expires on 01 January, 9999

Member Tuition without CEU

$95

$95

Expires on 01 January, 9999

Nonmember Tuition without CEU

$25

$25

Expires on 01 January, 9999

Student Tuition without CEU

$100

$100

Expires on 01 January, 9999

Member Tuition with CEU

$145

$145

Expires on 01 January, 9999

Nonmember Tuition with CEU

$35

$35

Expires on 01 January, 9999

Student Tuition with CEU

200

Limit

200

Limit

1.0

CEU

1.0

CEU

Expanded package for CEU credit is $100 for AAPG members, and $145 for non-members. Special Student Pricing: $25 for Webinar only; $35 for Expanded package.

AAPG Non-endorsement Policy

The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) does not endorse or recommend any products and services that may be cited, used or discussed in AAPG publications or in presentations at events associated with AAPG.